Arteta confident of more signings as Arsenal look to complete double deal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club are confident of further adding to his squad this summer.

Arsenal are hoping to sign Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, who would join Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga in arriving at the Emirates this summer.

The Gunners are also trying to complete the signing of defender Christian Mosquera from Valencia.

But when asked specifically about Gyokeres, Arteta responded: “I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet. When we have something concrete to offer in any case to any player, we will do that.”

Arsenal arrived in Singapore over the weekend for their first preseason tour in Asia since 2018. They will face AC Milan and Newcastle United before heading to Hong Kong to take on rivals Tottenham Hotspur in 10 days’ time.

Joining the 30-man squad in Asia are new additions Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, and Martin Zubimendi, while Noni Madueke has stayed in London after participating in Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign.

“It’s like shaking the tree again,” Arteta said. “Bringing new faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well. We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to a different level, and it’s what we are seeking.

Arsenal fans in Asia will be hoping to get their first glimpse of €65m signing Zubimendi, who has been brought in to strengthen the midfield from Real Sociedad.

The Spanish midfielder attracted plenty of interest from several European clubs, including Liverpool and Real Madrid, but ultimately decided on north London.

“It was a long process and he had a lot of opportunities to decide about whether he wanted to come,” Arteta said. “The good news is that this club is amazing and everyone wants to come to it.

“He left some very good opportunities to come to us. We are all very impressed about what we have seen over the last 7-10 days.

“Because once you have the player daily and you see his character, his personality, his character and how much he is going to bring to the team. [I am] very excited about it.”

However, Arteta acknowledges there are still areas that require strengthening ahead of the new season.

“There’s still a long time in the window and we are still seeking, in terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad,” he added.

“We are constantly looking in the market. Until that happens, focus on the players we have and focus on them and I’m very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days.

“Ideally you want [signings] from day one in pre-season. I think we have done very well so far, I’m very pleased with how the club has supported the necessities and improvements that we required in the team.

“I think Andrea [Berta] and the team have done an excellent job as well trying to push everything forward. There’s a long time to go in the window but we still have our hopes we can improve the team and we will continue to try and do that.”

Arsenal will face off against AC Milan on Wednesday in the first of three friendlies in the region, although both sides are yet to train due to heavy rainstorms in Singapore.